"The hand holding Harry thudded to the floor, and Snape moved no more." - J.K. Rowling

Seven years after the fact, the portrait of Severus Snape stood looming over Headmistress McGonagall in smug satisfaction. His sacrifices and accomplishments had been taken note of, and the wizarding world seemed finally to be picking up the remnant litter of a generation broken by war and distress. A new status quo settled gently into place. No more panicked letters. No more students endangered by a hidden dictator. No more needless slaughter. Granted, the stern Scotswoman still had to spend a great deal of time placating members of the Ministry of Magic whenever they should poke their noses into businesses of the academic leaders, but she hardly hoped for more excitement or stress than that provided; not at her age.

"It is half-eight, Minerva." the portrait commented in a dull tone.

"I am well aware of the time, thank you, Severus." she replied crisply, not even sparing a glance from the school budget she was looking over.

A few moments of silence drifted heavy in the office before the portrait began to shift uncomfortably in place. He smoothed the sleeves of his robes, shifting the paint until it leveled more evenly in the flickering candle light. Old habits of a meticulous man would die hard. The ticking of an ancient grandfather clock beat a metronome to the passage of time with the soft rustle of Professor McGonagall's papers as the only interruption. The man quietly cleared his throat to interject once more.

"You intend… not to go this time, I surmise?" Severus inquired, a touch more hesitant than he normally might have been.

"I intend to finish my budgeting, which is due in the morning." Minerva frowned, glaring up at him over the rims of her spectacles. "What exactly do you think is going to change, may I ask? I'm going to sit at the bedside for twenty minutes with barely a word of response, then we'll play a game of chess, then you'll ask me for a Life Snuffing Elixir, to which I will refuse and bid you goodnight. It doesn't alter by more than a little, and if you ask me, Severus, present you would rather stew in his thoughts than spend time with me. I've wanted to visit. You think there is no part of me that misses you? Of course I do. But you… there is none of you left in that body at Saint Mungo's. You've given up entirely. It pains me to see the way you've become, and I cannot bear to handle it tonight. I've been bi-weekly for seven years with little exception. A need a break. I expect you won't even realize I've missed it."

Perhaps it was a bit more direct and raw than she had intended, but the woman had reached a breaking point in watching a friend and colleague waste away in such a manner. At first, she'd made every effort to see him when Harry divulged what he'd come to find in the Pensive. She felt a heavy shame for harboring such dark thoughts against him towards the end of the war when they'd previously enjoyed each other's company and friendly rivalries. But now she felt only a mixture of pity and anger. When coupled with the stresses of running Hogwarts, her heart could only handle so much disappointment. Professor Snape's body may have survived the atrocious snake bite in a manner of speaking, but his mind was a different story.

A minute change in expression was the only indication that the portrait had absorbed the Headmistress' words. Severus opened his mouth as if to say something, but swallowed his intentions and closed without another word. He stood in place, quietly wringing his hands, then walked away from the borders of his painting to pace elsewhere in the castle.

"You'll have to forgive him. He's always been a very lonely man, Minerva. Even I didn't realize the depth of his aches for a number of years. Too many, in fact. I'm sure if he truly understood the way his physical self was behaving, he would stop asking you to go." the soft voice of another portrait remarked at Severus' departure.

"Oh, Albus. I know. This is unfortunate timing, that's all. I'm exhausted." Minerva sighed, removing her glasses to lightly massage her weary eyes. "Do apologize for me when you see him, won't you? I think I'll retire to my quarters for the evening and finish up there. Less distractions, you understand."

"More than you might think." Dumbledore chuckled quietly. "But you have been doing quite the phenomenal job this entire time. Good night, Minerva."